Knitting-machine.



No. 050,370. Patented May 20, |900. H. 00NNE0.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led July 10, 1899.)

(No Model.) I2 Sheets-Shelli 2.

M M 5M/64,

The Norms PETERS oo.. PHoroLVrnm wAsmNaToN. D, c.

No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900. H. DONNER.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med July 10, 1899.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. (No Model.)

we maar., afins co.. Hom-urna.. wAsAms-rcn, u. c.

No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900. H. DONNER.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Appxicmon med .my 1o, 189m- I2 Sheets-Sheet 5 (No Model.)

Lili,

llTTll 1 fag/3.

,MM/M.

No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900. H. DONNER. KNIT-rma MAcHlNE.

(Applqation led July 10, 1899A I2 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(N0 Model.)

ffnwses:

ZM/Q@ 1HE Nonms Prsns co.. PHoro-Ln'no., wAsHINmou. u. c.

No. 650,376. Patented may 29, |900. H. norman.` KNITTING MACHENE.

(Application tiled Juiy 10, 1899.`)`

I2 Sheets-Sheet` 7.

(No Modal.)

TH: Nonms PETER? ca. PHQYQLITHQ. wAsHmGmN, u. c.

No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900.

H. DONNER. KNsTTlNG MACHINE.

(Application Bled July 10, 1899.) (No Model.)- l2 Sheets-Sheet 8.

TN: Noam: Prrsgs Fumo-uno.. wAsHmavoN. n. c.

No. 650,376. Patented May 29, |900.

Hf DONNER. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application mea .my 16, 189s.)

(No Model.) I2 Sheets-Sheet 9.

Patented May 29, |900.

H. DNNER.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Ju1y 10, 1899,)

I2 Sheets-Sheet Il) (No Model.)

ffafzeeg.

No. G50-,376. -Pam'nwl may 29, |900.

H. normen.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed July-l0, 1899.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet Il.

(No Model.)

'U' ffy, 35g2 No. 650.376. Patented My 29, |900.

H. DONNER. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application tiled July 10, 1899.)

(No Model.) A l2 sheets-sheet |2,

/faa

nu: Ncnm Ferias' cc. PHnToMwo., wAsmNcToN. D, c.

UNITED STATE-s 'PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN DONNER, oF CHEMNITZ, GERMANY.

KNITTING MACHINEL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.650,376, 'dated May 29, 19002 Application tuta July 1o, 1899'.

To @ZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN DONNER, a subject of the King of Saxony, anda resident of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire, haveinvented a new and Im- .proved Automatic Straight-Knitting Machine,(System, Lamb,) of which the following is a full and exactspecification.

This invention is designed to admit by means of a new combination ofmechanism in a Lamb straight-knitting machine for the entirely-automaticproduction of a sock or stocking, the characteristics of such stockingsbeing their seamlessness and perfect shape obtained by combining thereinthe socalled Griswold heel (bag-like ware) with the regularly-narrowedtoe andinstep in front of the heel and calf. l

My invention is calculated to admit of the entirely-automatic productionof full-fashioned stockings in an uninterrupted sequence of differentoperations. The process of forming the so-called Griswold heel byrendering certain needles idle and active by lowering and raising theirfeet at predetermined intervals is known from United States VLetters.PatentNo.57,6etl,of 1896,to Bennor, and English Patent No. 13,126 of1891 to Rowlett, and that of regularly narrowing and Widening bytransferring meshes to adjacent needles with the aid of points is alsoknown from United States Letters PatentNo. 391,011 to Beyer, transferredto me; but never before have these two methods for imparting a desiredshape to knitted fabric been executed automatically and conjointly inone machine and in such a. manner that the mechanism employed fordisengaging and engaging mesh-holding Working needles during theformation of the heel can be used in combination with the automaticnarrowing apparatus for knitting a toe thoroughly narrowed down to thelast mesh. In the case of widening by transferring stitches to emptyneedles the same mechanism serves to render such needles active oneafter the other, as required, by raising their feet out of theneedle-bed into the path of the knitting-cams.

The present invention, briefly stated, comprehends, first, aconstruction of a new automatic straight-knitting machine (system, Lamb)combining the two methods of narrowserial No'. 723.402. cro modem ingand widening by rendering idle or active certain needles by plungingtheir feet and by transferring stitches to adjacent needles with the aidof points; secondly, means for allowing the fabric-as, for instance, inthe case of a toeto be narrowed down to the last mesh, and, finally, itcomprehends various minor features of construction whereby adinafterparticularly described.

In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1represents a plain seamless sock with ribbed top and the so-calledGriswold i heel and regularlynarrowed toe. shows the same sock withribbed leg and shaped instep. Fig. 3 shows a plain seamless sock, as perFig. 1, but with shaped inless stocking with the so-called Griswold heeland regularly-narrowed toe and calf, the narrowings of the leg forforming the'calf being effected at both sides of the same. Fig. 5 showsa similar stocking with shaped leg and instep, the leg being ribbed, thenarrowings of the leg in this case running down at the back in thecenter of the calf. Fig. 6 represents a fully-fashioned seamlessstocking with the so-called Griswold heel and regularly-narrowed toe,instep, and leg, the narrowings of the leg running down at the back inthe center of the calf. Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of themachine, showing four heads. Fig. 8 is a section on line A B, Fig. 7,some accessory parts being omitted for more clearly illustrating themost important parts of the machine. Fig. 9 is a left-hand end elevationof said machine on Fig. 7, yarnstand and weight-relieving device beingnot shown. Fig. 10 shows in a cross-section -on line C D of Fig. 7 therelation of patternchain to the eccentrics to x7. Fig. 10 is a view ofone set of coacting ecceutrics c c2 c3, forming one such set, one of thedisks being in section and partly cut oi. Fig. 11 is a plan view of aneccentric 1/4in conjunction with one of the cam-displacing bars o to o7.Fig. 11a is a cross-section thereof as on the line E F of Fig. 11. Fig.12 is a side view of the eccentric @f7 at the commencement of its run,relieving the pulling-off weight during Fig. 2'

vantages are gained, all of which will be here- K step. Fig. 4represents a full-fashioned seamformation of the heel. Fig. 121L is asection thereof as on the line G H of Fig. 12. Fig. 1 2b is a side viewof said eccentric during its run. Fig. 12c is a section thereof as onthe line I K of Fig. 12b. Fig. 13 is a plan View of the pattern-chainand intermediate mechanisms forreciprocatin g eccentrics 0c' to :07.Figs. 14 to 2O show in transverse Vertical sections through theneedle-beds and needle-operating bars,'pointcarriers and followers beingrepresented in side view, the empty needles being thrown inactive byhaving their feet plunged into the needle-bed. Fig. 21 is a transversesection through a needle-bed with jacks and needles in connection withfollower and reciprocating mechanism as on line R S of Fig. 28a. Fig. 22is a plan View thereof.' Fig. 23 shows ina vertical section through aneedle-bed the carriage guide-bars and carnregulating bars, the segmentmechanism for raising needles in receiving position thrown out ofaction. Fig.. 24E is a section through a sprin g-controlled pin carryingneedle-operating segment and eccentric projection. Fig. 25 is a planview of the needle-operating segment mechanism, with its reciprocatingbars. Fig. 26 is a plan view of one of the springactuated segments, witheccentric projection in conjunction with its displacing-bar. Fig. 27 isa vertical section through a 'needle-bed, they carriage guide-bars, andcam-regulatin-gbars, the segment mechanism for raising needles intoreceiving position thrown intoaction. Fig. 28 is a plan view of aneedie-bed, with its needles, showing the knitting-cams in relation withauxiliary triangle e0. Fig. 29 shows in side view the end step cu inrelation to the abutment-bar, throwing into and out of action thesegment mechanism for raising the needles into receiving position. Fig.30 is a plan view of the camcarriage and the bars for reciprocating thesegment mechanism and the knitting-cams. Fig. 2G.a is an end elevationof the mechanisms actuating point-carriers and followers seen fromleft-hand side of Fig. 7. Fig. 27a isa cross-section on the line N O ofFig. 26, showing the regulating-screw, with its sliding block and adjuncts. Fig. 28 is a partial topview of the machine, taken from therighthand side of Fig. 7. Fig. 29=L is a transverse vertical sectionthrough the needle-beds seen as 'on the line PQ of Fig. 2S, showing theper Fig. 7, showing the coupling engaging with the yoke of thecam-carriage. Fig. 32 is a partial side elevation thereof. Fig. 32

is a section through. the coupling in direction Fig. 33 is a plan Viewof T U of Fig. 32.

showing the disengaging fork no no thrown out of gear; Fig. 34, thesame, but thrown into gear. Fig. 35 is an elevation of the wheelsreciprocatingthe cam-shaft appertaining to the narrowing apparatus. Fig.36 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 37 is a crossseetion of theneedle-bed, needle and needle-controlling jack being in side view. Fig.

,38 is a section of the solid foundation-plate of the needle-bed,showing in side View transverse groove for division-plate andlongitudinal recess n3. Fig. 39' is a plan View of a needle-bed holdingseparate division-plates. Fig. 40 is a cross-section of theknocking-over comb of the needle-hed. Fig. 41 is a plan view of one ofthe longitudinal toothed crossplates securing the transversedivision-plates against displacement. Fig. 42 is a side View of adivision-plate. Fig. 43 is a side View of a needle-controlling jack,with its basal clawshaped projection no.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a framework of appropriate formto support the various parts of the machine. Upon this frame are fixedthe oppositely-inclined needle-beds B B, the needles of which arereciprocated to effect tubularand other knitting by means of theknitting-cams traveling thereon. These cams are supported on carriagesb, sliding between grooved bars b2 b3, Fig. 8, and

connected through rods b', Figs. 7, 32, and 32, by yoke n2, which inturn is reciprocated in the manner as hereinafter described. Mountedtransversely in the machine and extending through the frame at eitherend is the main driving-shaft d, Figs. l7 and 8, carry-ing loosely onone end the iy-wheel r8,with

8, further carries beveled wheel T2, gearing with beveled pinion r3.Fixed coneentrically upon the same axis as r3 is spur-wheel rw, which isdestined to rotate the cam-shaft t,

.j longitudinally mounted in the framework A, by being thrown i nto gearwith spur-wheel tir, fixed on shaft t'. rived the rotary-motion ofcam-shaft c by i cog-wheel r4 engaging with the intermediary i wheel m5,which rotates wheels fr and rl, the

From axis d3 is also delatter being fastened upon eam-shaf t e, whichis, like shaft t, longitudinally arranged in the frame. right-hand endelevation of the machine, as

To impart rotary motion to the main driving-shaft d, thus actuating thedepending mechanism, the following arrangement is lQmade: Parallel to-and close beneath handwheel shaft CZ is disposed a longitudinal shaft5w?, with a certain number of hand-levers IIO IZO

rmly secured upon it. The end lever ho, Fig. 8, is provided with aprojecting arm b4, the extremity of which, being slotted, straddles apin s, let into bar s, arranged vertically movable on the side of theframe. Bar s has at its upper end an oifset or recess jo, into whichextends the spring-controlled rod s', that forms the connection with theboss of cone o, which is disposed longitudinally movable upon shaft CZ,but is prevented from turning independently of the latter by a splinefixed therein and fitted loosely into a corresponding internal slot inthe boss of cone o. Said cone o works vin a corresponding cavity of theiiy-wheel pulley rs and impels, when steadily pressed into said cavity,shaft d to rotate in the same direction as fly-wheel rs. To press cone ointo the cavity of said pulley, lever 7L has to be raised into theposition as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8. downward, whereby rod s' ispressed into the direction of the arrow, Fig. S, by offset jo actingupon the extremity of rod s', and thus cone o is pressed into itscavity, shaft CZ is forcibly rotated, thereby rotating crankwheel r',pinion r3, cam-shafts e' and e, and handwheel shaft CZ. The relativesizes of the different wheels is arranged in such a manner that onerevolution of cam-shaft eis equal to one revolution of crank-wheel shaftc12011 one movement to and fro on the needle-beds B .B of thecam-carriage b. Between the two standards on the right-hand side of themachine is arranged the well-known pattern-chain device, Figs. 7 and 8.It consists of a ratchetwheel m2, securely fastened upon a pin m3, asprocket-wheel m4, fixed upon the same axis as the ratchet-wheel, andthe endless chain m, with its studs n, passing around the wheel m4. Thepattern-chain device receives its intermittent step-by-step motion bycam-shaft e, which for this purpose carries disk y. This disk, rotatingwith shaft e, is provided with a semicircular incision which actuatespawlsupporting lever 7L (bearing upon said disk) in such a manner thatpawl 7c with every revolution of shaft e moves ratchet-wheel m2 onetooth, and consequently sprocket-wheel m4, which latter movespattern-chain forward by one bar or link. A notched disk m5, firmlysecured to pin m3 bythe side of sprocket-wheel m4, is designed by meansof spring m6 entering the notches to regulate and steady thestep-by-step motion of said wheel and prevent it from racking thepattern-chain more than one link or bar at the time. The manner in whichthe studs n upon pattern-chain mcontrol the operation of the knittingand other mechanisms will be more fully described hereinafter.

C C in Fig. 7 represent the slide-bars dcs` construction of theautomatic narrowing device are likewise known from United States Bars ispushed' Letters Patent No. 391,011 to Beyer, transferred to me. The arms71.197120, Fig. 8,support ing the longitudinally-movable bars that holdpoint-carriers bo, as well as the arms 6 Z7, Fig. 9, supporting thegrooved needle-operating bars l Z2, are fulcrumed on longitudinalrockshafts d4 d5, the depending arms being reciprocated by eccentricsupon cam-shaft z'.

I refrain from giving a detailed description of the automatic narrowingdevice in this specification. I shall only mention it incidentally andin so far as it has been improved in my present invention.

I-Iitherto in making entirely-seamless fashioned socks or stockings inautomatic straightknitting machines (system Lamb) the work is usuallycommenced at the toe part of the foot. The toe is formed either byrendering certain needles idle and active (Bennor) or by widening, asdescribed in English Patent No. 13,126 (Howlett) of 1891, whereupon theformation of the plain portion of the foot is continued in the ordinaryway by throwing the cams into the tube-knitting positions. Afterward theheel is lnade by working backward and forward upon one needle-bed onlyand with a number of needles varying successively, so as to produce abag-like shape, what in the art is known as Griswold heel. Articlesmadein this way, however, exhibit many imperfections, especially with regardto shape and fin-` ishing, which detracts from the marketability of sucharticles.

To produce a well-proportioned and perfectly-finished sock or stocking,I reverse the order of operations by making the leg portion first andsubsequently in making the foot by forming an improved heel of bag form,(Griswold,) an instep close to the heel, and a toe, which latter Ifashion by narrowing down to the last needle,as it is done withhand-wrought stockings. For this purpose I construct a needle-bed, asshown in Figs. 37 to 43, with a solid foundation-plate n2, provided witha certain number of transverse grooves of the gage desired. In thesegrooves are mounted par-A allel to one another plates n4, constitutingguides for the needles and the needle-controlling jacks a, which aremovably arranged between said plates. The bifurcated needlejacksemployed by me in this instance differ from those generally used in sofar as they are provided on their bases with a claw-shaped projectiona0, which serves to fix said jacks when sunk into the needle-bed byentering a corresponding recess n3, cut longitudinally into thefoundation-plate a2 of the needlebed. The knitting-needles, which aretted to the longitudinal slot of the controllingjacks, are consequentlyforced to follow the jacks with the effect that during the formation ofthe heel the feet of the needles knitting the heel are infallibly eitherplunged into the needle-bed out of the path of the reciprocating cams orthey are raised into the path of the said cams, with the effect thatthose needles which during narrowing process withthe IOO IIO

aid of points were emptied of their stitches are rendered idle byplunging their feet without their heads obstructing the motion of thepoints.

The needle-jacks have at their foot end a cam-slot a a, through which arod passes, common to all of them, suitably disposed in the needle-bed,and which rod, coacting with the cam-slots a a, determines the positionand movement of the jacks in the needle-bed bevide a facile replacementof the knocking-l over portion of the needle-bed, which in the course ofwork has to suffer the greatest wear, this part n' consists of aseparate piece suitably attached to the solid foundation-plate n2. Thisconstruction of a needle-bed combines utmost durability with theadvantage of permitting such needle-bed to be adapted for theIinest-gage machine of the kind, while it renders the machine moreefcient and its work more perfect.

As' already mentioned, the shank of the knitting-needles is fitted tothe longitudinal slot of jack a, by which latter they are held andcontrolled in such a manner that they may move lengthwise between thedivisionplates, but never vertically, independent of the jacks. lf jacka, Figs. 21 and 22, is brought into position a', the needle governed orheld by said jack must follow its vertical motion, being consequentlydrawn into the needle-bed. The foot of the needle disappears completelybelow the surface of the needle-bed in theposition shown by f and cantherefore no longer be reciprocated by the knitting-cams. If, on theother hand, jack a is brought back from position a into position a, thenneedle-foot f is raised again out of the guideways of the needle-bedinto the path of the knitting-cams, and the needle is consequentlyrendered active. The displacing of jacks a and, corresponding with it,the putting into and out of action of the needles, is eifected byfollowers t" i4, Figs. 28a, 21,' and 22, by means of shoulders a' u2,Figs. 21 and 22, impinging against the upprojecting foot extremities ofthe jacks and by'either pulling them downward or pushing them up againinto their original position, in the manner as hereinafter moreparticularly described.

The working of socks or stockings, as illustrated on Sheet 1, either canbe commenced by forming the net (Fig. 4 at A d) or by transferringto theneedles a rib top (Figs. 1 and 3 at B b) or stocking-leg (Figs. 2, 5,and 6 at C c) by means of my transferring apparat-us,

pattern-chain.

United States Letters Patent No. 527,674, dated October 16, 1894. Thisdone and after mounting a setting-up comb and lattaching thereto apulling-oft weight, Fig. 30% the machine is set to work, as described,by raising lever ho, Fig. 8. The oscillatory stops c co, Fig. 8,disposed in proximityto the needlebeds and projecting into the path ofthe reciprocating cams, are regulated in such a manner by means of studsupon pattern-chain m, acting upon the intermediate levers and links,that said cams are thrown into the tubeknitting positions-z'. e., theset of cams appertaining to the front needle-bed is active while that ofthe back needle-bed is idle, and vice versa. The machine now knits astraight tubular plain web, the top part of a leg of a stocking, or anyother certain and predetermined number of courses regulated by the Afterknitting the straight tubular piece the narrowing of the calf portionwould have to be eifected, carried out on both sides of the leg, as inFig. 4, and to throw the narrowing mechanism into action, Figs. 10 and13, a stud 'n is fixed upon pattern-chain m, which stud raises lever100, Fig. 8, and lever h2 by means of the conn ecting-rod z5. Thewedge-shaped projection a, Figs. 35 and 36, upon a rectangularenlargement of the boss of'lever h2 upon shaft 7l depresses a similarbut oppositely-beveled projection upon the springcontrolled clutch@,which is pivoted at q' upon the boss of wheel r9 within reach of studq2, affixed to the rotating wheel rw, with the effect that said stud q2,bearing against clutch fu, moves wheel r9 a short but sufficientdistance to cause the teeth of wheel r9 to engage with those of wheelr1, Now wheel r9, with camshaft will make one revolution, after which itwill stop again, as from that part ofwheel r9 marked j, the teeth havebeen cut away and as clutch i: has resumed its normal position, leverp0, Fig. 8, having passed over stud n and having reciprocated theintermediate levers and links accordingly. During this revolution ofcam-shaft i, which causes the narrowing operation to take place,carriage b must not move, but must discontinue its course at the end ofits stroke. To this end cam y@ upon cam-shaft t', Figs. 3l and 32,kraises pivoted lever g5, which by means of connecting-rod t0reciprocates lever g4in such a manner that wedge Z3, secured to leverg4, is forced between the spring-retracted ends of pivoted fork `n0,thuscausing the closing of the opposite ends of said fork, Figs. 33 and 34.Fork n0 being closed, or rather the two sides brought parallel to oneanother, cross-bolt Q0, Figs. 32, 32, 33, and 34, slides upon itstapered ends and lifts spring-impelled pin Q3 out of its recess in thelower portion of the coupling ko, Fig. 32a, thus liberating the latterfrom the upper coupling n2. Now the lower portion alone continues itsto-and-fro motion, while IOO IIO

the top portion n2, which is connected with carriage b, is held fast.After finishing the narrowing operation fork n0,Fig. 33, is opened againby cam y0. Pin g3 being released catches in the recess in the lowerportion of coupling ko and establishes again connection between theupper and the lower portions of said coupling, whereupon carriage bresumes its usual to-and-fro motion imparted to a2 by means of ko. Thenarrowing process itself takes place in a similar manner as described inUnited States Letters Patent No. 391,011 to Beyer, transferred to me,dated October 16, 1888, only that in the present instance thethrowingout of action of the needles emptied of their stitches duringsaid process is done in a different and in this combination entirely newway. For this purpose are disposed lengthwise and on both sides of theframe, as shown in Fig. 30, rock-shafts d d?, upon which are fixed acertain number of arms a5 fn, perforated at their upper end and formingbearings of rods d.8 d". Upon shafts d d? are also fixed levers ha h4,coming into contact with cams y' upon cam-shaft z'. The levers h3 h4 areheld in their positions by suitably-disposed retracting-springs.Followers t" to t4, which are supported in their respective positionsjust above and parallel to the needle-beds by slide-blocks i5, areprovided at their ends with slotted -up projections, into the slots ofwhich rods d8 di are fitted, reciprocating said followers, with the eectthat the shoulders u u2 upon the under side of the followers on thelatter being moved outward impinge against the turned-up footextremities of jacks a and pull them downward, whereby, as shownhereinbefore, the respective needle or needles are thrown out of action,Fig. 19. The followers t" to 114 are immediately after having pulleddown jacks Ct brought back by the reciprocating mechanism into theiroriginal inactive position, Fig. 20. The movement of the followers t" toi4 in opposite directions across the space of one needle on each side ofthe needle-bed (see arrow in Fig. 22) has to take place immediatelyafter the needles have been emptied of their stitches during thenarrowing process, and it is transmitted by connecting-bars .s3 to s,(see Figs. 21, 26, and 2823) which are movably fitted in longitudinalsupporting-bars i i7. For the purpose of reciprocating bars s3 to s thefollowing arrangement is made: At each end of the machine and parallelto the needle-beds are mounted in fast brackets oppositely-pitchedscrews to i0, Fig. 7, carrying -correspondingly-threaded bosses g g2,which are oppositel y displaced every ti me the screws are actuated.Bosses g g2, Figs. 26, 27a, and 2S, are provided with rigid arms a,extending on both sides transversely and parallel to the needle-bed. Bymeans of these arms the connecting-bars s4 S5 are actuated by screw@'00, and s3 s by screw i0, whereas the connecting-bars s3 to s in turnreciprocate followers t" to i, of which 7l' is joined to s3, 2 to s, 'i3to si", and t* to s6.' In order to reciprocate screws 120 00, a cam oncam-shaft z' is brought to bear upon rollers w, Fig. 8, 10, Fig. 9, os-

cillating levers hh, fulcrumed on shaft d4, in such a manner that leverh5, by means of its depending hook, which engages with the studs uponthe head of screw 0, turns the latter, and boss g' is moved across thespace of one needlein the needlebed,while lever h6 impels screw 0simultaneously, and which latter in turn reciprocates boss g2 in a likemanner. course followers t" to 4 are moved through connecting-bars s3 tos accordingly, either inward or outward. In the same manner as followersz" to 4 are also point-carriers bo reciprocated by screws 0 00. In thiscase the movement of bosses g g2 is transmitted by arms 0,5, whichextend between the down-projecting anges a6 and a7, Figs. 26fL and 2S,to which bars S7 and ss, connecting point-carriers 190, are fixed.

The process of narrowing can be seen from Figs. 14 to 20. The points botake hold of the needles and pull them, supported by needleactuatingbars Z Z2, so high that the loops slip below the latches of the needles,whereupon the motion of the points is reversed and the stitches areconsequently transferred to the points, Figs. 14 and 16. Subsequentlythe points are raised and carry their stitches over one needle inwardly,while the feet of those needles emptied by this 'operation are beingplunged into the needle-bed by shoulders u' of followers 7l' to 714. Incompleting the narrowing operation the points transfer their loops uponthe needles beneath them in the well-known manner, returning afterward,together with needle-operating bars Z' Z2, in their original or idleposition, Fig. 8. This operation is repeated as many times as narrowingsare required for the fashioning of the leg of the stocking, and forevery narrowing a stud n has to be fixed on pattern-chain m, whichconsequently, in accordance with the number of studs, regulates thenumber of narrowings in the fabric at predetermined intervals.

After the narrowings of a stocking or after the leg portion of a. sockhave been made the working of the heel ot' the foot is commenced. Themechanisms devised for this purpose are likewise actuated bypattern-chain m; but before going into details respecting theirconstruction or order of working it is necessary that the several andparticular workings of cams fc' to x7, Fig. 13, should be eXplainediCams so' to wl are mounted upon shaft e in close proximityr to thepattern-chain device. Each cam consists of three disks c' c2 c3, Fig.10a, of which c' is fastened upon shaft e, o2 being disposed looselyupon boss of c, whereas o3 is arranged laterally movable upon boss of c'and prevented from turning independently of disk c bya spline fittinginto a slot in the bore of disk c3. Disk c3 is held in its normalposition by astrong buffer-spring f?, Fig. 13, upon shaft e, compressingc3 constantly against c2. To render disk c3 susceptible to be displaced,the opposite inner side faces of disks c3 and c? are provided withwedge-shaped steps co0,

On bosses g g2 being reciprocated of IIO s Y 65eme is providedwithsteps, and opposite each disk c2 is arranged a spring-actuatedplunger- 7c', Fig. 13, which slides in a grooved block withinwardly-projecting edges and which block is.

permanently fastened to the frame. Plunger 7c', Fig. 10, is connectedwith lever p5, riding upon pattern-chain m, by lever Z4. lf, forinstance, lever p5, Fig. 10, is raised by a stud n upon pattern-chain m,then plunger 7.o is pressed, by means of lever Z4, toward disk c2,whereby the head of plunger 7c', engaging with one of the steps in therim of said disk, arrests it in its motion, with the effect that disk c3is displaced laterally upon shaft c, as described. ln conjunction withdisk c3 is also displaced rod v2 by disk c3 bearing against lug goo,secured upon said rod, which latter carriesy also fork g3, embracingeccentric y, Figs. 11 and 1l, disposed laterally movable upon cam -shafte. Eccentric g/l on being moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 13is brought to bear upon roller 104, which it reciprocates, together withthe depending mechanisms. Said eccentric gf* will remain in thisposition until lever 135 has passed over stud n, by which it was raised,plunger' k has receded from disk c2, and disk c3 has been pushed back byspring fo into its normal position, followed by rod o2, impelled byspring go, Fig. 13. All motions are now transmitted from cam-shaft e.After every row of stitches formed cam fr', Fig. 13, consisting of threedisks c' c2 c3, by displacing rod n' causes eccentric e', Fig. 30, tobear upon roller 'zu' of lever 71,4,which being fulcruined upon shaft dreci procates followers 'i3 i?. This contrivance, as already explained,serves to throw out of action those of the needles which are emptiedduring the narrowing process with the aid of points, whereas now it isemployed for rendering idle and Vactive those needles which are destinedto knitthe bag-like heel (the so-called Gris- Wold7 heel) by plungingand raising their feet. When set to work, said contrivancc begins firstby rendering idle the extreme working needle on the left, after thesubsequent row of stitches the extreme working needle on the right,dac., constantly alternating one needle on the left with one on theright. vIt should be noted that the needles rendered inactive in thisfashion keep their stitches until moved again into activity and that thehooks of said needles remain in line andv on the saine height as theworking or active needles, as may be seen from Fig. 29a. Followers i3 t4are laterally displaced toward each other by bars 35 s6, Fig. 28, inconjunctionwit-h screws o 00, as described hereinbefore. Said screwsare,while the narrowed part of the heel is being knitted, actuated bylevers h5 h6, Figs. 8 and 9. Rods v2 r3, the. be-

ing displaced by cams x2 :153, die., (each consisting of three disks cto ci) reciprocate eccentrics z2 e3, rbc., in such a manner that theyare brought to bear upon the depending arms of levers h5 71,6, thusrocking them. All of the cams zr' are alike, and each one in turnoperates its respective rods fu', of which o' effects the right-handoutward movement of the sliding boss g', while o2 causes the return ofsame. o3 moves the left-hand sliding boss outward, and ful again returnsthe saine. 'rs and r6 effect the sinking and raising of the jacks, ando7 brings the pulling-olf apparatus into action. The operation ofknitting the heel is continued until the narrowed part of the.

heel has attained its desired length,\vliereupon the outthrown needlesare alternately and in inverse order moved back into action, with thefollowers i3 4 reversing their motion. For this purpose cams fr mi .rarethrown idle and cains mi 005 c6 substituted, with the effect that afterevery row of stitches formed lever IL10, firmly fastened upon shaft d,is pushed in an upward direction byeccentric e, the latter beingactuated by rod yn in connection with cain at, Fig. 3W. Vith lever hlare likewise reciprocated forks n upon shaft d and rod d8, coacting withfollowers 3 i4, whereby shoulders u2 iinpinge against the tailprojections of jacks ci, and thereby bring them back again, togetherwith their needles, inactive position, Figs. 2l and 22. The followers i3"i4, as already hinted, have no longer an inward motion toward eachother, but move outward away from one another. This motion is iinpartedyby screw 7200 being turned by pawl-supporting lever hg, which isreciprocated by eccentric 55, Fig. 9, acting together with cam and rodv5, Fig. 13, and by screw to being actuated in the like manner bypawl-supporting lever hs, .eccentric e4, Fig. S, cam Q34, and rod o4,Fig. 13. As soon as all the needles pre-V viously set idle have beenbrought backinto work cams a# :t5 0c are thrown out of gear again, whilesteps c o0, Fig. 8, are so regu-r lated as to resume their originalposition. This means that the cams are throwninto the tube-knittingposition and that the machine once more knits tubular plain fabric. Itshould be remarked that to pull off the bag-like fabric forming the heela speciallyconstructed pulling-off apparatus is required, the nature ofwhich can be apprised from my United States Patent No. 629,892. Thispulling-off apparatus is actuated by cani m7, reciprocated bypattern-chain m.

As the fabric of a heel produced in the inanner as described would showholes at those places where needles were thrown in and out of action, ithas been devised to prevent the occurrence of such holes by closing themup with an additional loop. For this purpose the needles of the backneedle-bed are pro-` vided with a second foot f2., Fig. 2l. Immediatelyafter such a needle has been thrown idle, as hereinbefore shown, it isalone and IOC IIO

be thrown in and out ot' work, as desired.

independently, before the beginning of the next following row ofstitches, thrown up again into receiving position, where yarn isdelivered to it at the same time as to the remaining active needles. Theneedles are brought singly into this receiving position by segments d10and d alternately, Figs. 23 to 27. The segments d10 d are disposed oneither side of the back needle-bed, mounted on horizontalspring-controlled pins e' e2, which rest in bearin gs fixed to rods iand t2, respectively, these rods being attached to sliding bosses g g2,governed by screws i0 00. The pins bearing segments d10 d are providedon the opposite ends with eccentric projections m7 m8,

lbeveled inwardly,whieh serve to oscillate said These eccentricprojections, ex-

segments. tending into the path of the cam-carriage, are reciprocated inthe following manner: rlriangle do, being supported on cam-carriage b,makes, with the latter, the to-and-fro motion and depresses projectionsm7 m8, thus forcing segments d10 du to turn upon their respective axes ee2, whereby one needle is thrown into receiving position, where yarn issupplied to it simultaneously with the working needles on the returnstroke. As an additional loop is formed only upon that. needle whichduring the production of the Griswold heel has been set idle by plungingits foot, it is necessary that on every stroke of the machine only oneneedle should be raised. For this reason the eccentric projections mYmShave been beveled inwardly, with the effect th at, on triangle dosliding over the one or the other, segment d'0 or d turns in oppositedirection-viz., away from the needles, Fig. 23. The needle thrown up bysegment d10 or d is immediately'at'ter receiving yarn moved back againinto idle position by triangle e0 depressing its second foot f2, Fig.28. Triangle e0 works conjointly with the needle-reciprocating cams andis for this purpose fixed upon cam-carriage b hy means of asuitably-adjusted support extending into the plane of the needles. Thetravel of this device is, like that of the followers 3 i4, regulated byscrews i0 00. As the formation of an additional mesh to prevent theoccurence of holes in the fabric is only required when and where needlesare thrown out of action in forming the heel by Widening and narrowing,triangle do is in work solely during the knitting ot' the heel and isfor this purpose arranged in such a manner that it can To this end alongitudinal bar z is devised, carrying wedges k2, Figs. 23, 25, 27, 29,and 30, which are adapted, on bar a being laterally displaced, to raisetriangle d0 into a recess in the cam-carriage b, thus removing it out ofthe path of the eccentric projections m7 m8, that are fixed on e e?,respectively. The operation of this device is, like that of others inthis machine, controlled and actuated by pattern-chain m, which tobring. about this efiect is provided with studs that are alittle higherthan the ordinary ones, wherebylever p', Fig. 13, regulating stops c a0,is lifted in such a manner that stop co assumes position 3, Figs. 29 and30, and bears against projection e3, and consequently displacing rod .ain the direction of arrow l, and triangle d0 is brought into activeposition, as shown in Fig. 30. lt', on the other hand, triangle d is tobe rendered idle, then an ordinary stud is employed, which moves stopo0, by means of lever p', in position 2, Figs. 29 and 30, in whichposition it bears against projection c4, pushing rod .c in the directionof arrow 2, and thus moving triangle d0 out of action. When now,proceeding with the making of the foot, an instep is to be produced, asshown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 2, the requisite studs would bring thenarrowing mechanism into action, which would operate in the manner ashereinbefore described-viz., to overhang meshes to adjacent needles withthe aid of points and render the empty needles idle by plunging theirfeet. The instep finished, the needleoperating cams continue in thetube-knitting position and after the plain tubular part of the foot hasbeen formed begins the shaping of the toe. The narrowingmechanism,together with the coacting follower device, is consequentlythrown into action by means of a stud or pattern-chain m, actuating thedepending mechanisms. For every narrowing required in closing the toe ofthe foot stands a stud upon the pattern-chain m.' Hitherto in closingthe toe automatically and with the aid of points the narrowing continueduntil the point-carriers bo, Fig.7, on their laterallyopposed movementabutted against one another-viz., until the points correspond in numberexactly with that of the stitches still to be transferred. In order toclose the point farther than this and to the last needle, the respectivefeet of sliding bosses g' g, Figs. 26, 27, and 28, supporting the armsregulating the lateral travel of the follower device and thepoint-carriers, which feet so far were made in one solid piece, areconstructed in two parts independently movable and coperating by meansof screws fio @'00 and. a springactuated pawl-and-ratchet mechanism. Itacts in this way that the lower part Z0, bearing arms a4, reciprocatingfollowers i' to i4,

vmoves uninterruptedly from needle to needle, whereas the upper portion,with arms a5, that control the motion of the point-carriers bo, returnsafter performing one narrowing outward again over one needle impelled byscrews i0 to". For the subsequent narrowing it is moved inwardagain,whereupon it is retracted once more, and thus it continues untilthe toe has been closed to the last needle. The construction can be seenfrom Fig. 27a and is as follows: On the head of boss g and below screwi0 is pivoted a spring-depressed pawl g, pointing with its prolonged endtoward the defiecting-stop t3, the top of which is tapered od, ineliningin the path of IOO pawl gf. The base of boss g is furnished with aratchet o0, into the teeth of which tits spring-supported catch, that ispivotally connected with 70, the lower separate portion of the foot ofboss g. The block Z0, with rigid arms CL4, is guided between bars andcarries on one end a tooth-like projection s0, against which pawl g6impinges in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter described.Fig. 27* represents the right-hand screw and follower device with screwi0. The left-hand device with screw 00 being identical is not shown. Assoon as the web of the toe has been narrowed down to eight needles theprolonged end of pawl g6 will have slid upon the tapered surface of t3so high that projection Z upon block 70 has been liberated,with theeffect that, the narrowing device being moved inwardly over one needleon either side, said projection Z0 glides away below pawl ge, and thuspermits boss C', on screw i being retracted by lever 718, to be drawnoutwardly without reciprocating block l, which remains in exactly theposition transported to catch fr, and ratchet V0 being arranged in suchmanner that boss g may move outwardly without impelling bloc-k Z0 as theteeth of ratchet no, depressing pawl tr, slide over it; but on beingdisplaced inwardly pawl 5c registers firmly with one of the teeth of V",and consequently block 70 is forced in the direction of boss g'. Theseoperations are repeated until the web of the toe has been narrowed downto the breadth of two needles,when the left-hand screw device,togetherwith follower arrangement, is retracted, but not advanced again, andonly the right-hand one is actuated in the manner as described,transferring the one loop to the last needle. Now, the fashionin g ofthe toe being accomplished, the machine stops by itself, and it remainsonly for the stocking or sock to be taken out of the machine in theusual manner.

The stopping of the machine when required is brought about automaticallyand is caused by pattern-chain m. For this purpose lever p3, Fig. 8,fulcrumed at d10, is connected with pivoted lever b5 by rod t4. Lever b5is provided at its free end with a projection M0, against which pressesa similar projection m upon lever b3, securely fastened upon shafttuti-carrying likewise lever 7t0 and its slotted continuation b4, thatengages with rod s by means of pin s, as described. Springfs, at-

tached to lever b3, has the tendency of constantly keeping the latter inits normal position-t'. e., the position it assumes on the machinehaving been stopped. To throw the machine out of gear, a stud uponpatternchain rm. raises lever p3, which, by means of rod t4, depresseslever b5, so that projection m0 liberates lever b3, which, beingimpelled by spring f3, causes rod s to rise, whereupon rod s' entersrecess joand cone o recedes from its cavity in iiy-wheel pulley T8, thusstopping themachine, as hereinbefore set forth.

In proportion as the breadth of the web is diminished during theformation of the toe the weight pulling oif the fabric has to be reducedalso. To this end an automatic weight-relieving tackle at the left endof the machine has been arranged, as shown, consisting of three verticalrods held in one stand, two of which serve as guides for the pulling-4off weights, while on the third one at certain intervals severalbrackets c4 are fixed, which arrest the weights on their downward way.To render the discharging of such weights automatic during workingprocess of the machine, the distance s0 between the arms of thedifferent brackets c4 is differentiated in such a manner that itdecreases in every bracket downward. The weights 7c3 to 705, suspendedon a chain passing over a roller at the top end of the vertical rods,are of various lengthsin conformity with the distances s0 between thearms of brackets c4. The weights in descending are arrested one afterthe other, the longest iirst and by degrees the shorter ones, withoutrequiring any manipulation by hand, and in this manner the strain ofweight on the fabric is reduced as its breadth is diminished. y

During the action of pulling-onf apparatus, as per specification of myUnited States Patent No. 629,892, and while the heel is being made theaction of weights 7c3 to 705, Fig. 30a, must be arrested. To do thisautomatically without interrupting the run of the machine, a stud uponpattern-chain m will actuate 'a certain mechanism and cause rollerr11,which stands under the in tluence of weights 7.53 to 755, to bearrested. For this purpose, as shown in Figs. 12, l2, 12b, and l2,cam-shaft e carries laterally movable a disk and eccentrically iixed toit a cam p7. On the disk being displaced by eccentric moving rod n? inthe manner as hereinbefore described with regard to &c., spring-actuatedroller w3 of lever f4, Fig. 80a, is .pressed against the side of thedisk until the face of eccentric y? reaches the le vel of the face ofthe disk at jm, when roller w3 is forced and kept onto it by spring f5.Lever f4 is no longer rocked by cam 1/7. Pawl 7i:6 engages withratchet-wheel ro, fixed upon the same shaft (713 as roller r11,completely7 arresting the latter, and consequently also the action ofweights 7c3 to 7t5. Roller r11 is in due time automatically releasedagain by the disk of @/7 being shoved back into its normal position, androller w3 is once more being reciprocated by yh So as to save thelifting by hand into active position by the sliding frame of thepulling-off apparatus, as per specification of my United States PatentNo. 629,892, a ratchet-bar m9, Fig. 9,suitably arranged beneath eachframe at the back of the machine, has been provided,which bar is raisedstep by step by means of pawl e5 engaging with the teeth of that bar andby moving lever c714 up and down by hand. The bar m9 is prevented fromdropping, on pawl IOO IIO

IZO

